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Mike Trout vs Bryce Harper

You have to take Trout based on the fact he's been the best player in baseball for two years. Today, right now, Harper is playing better. Harper's last month is basically as good a stretch as I've seen since a roided up Barry Bonds. He's been that good. Yes, I just said it. However, 4-6 weeks does not a career mark. If Harper can stay healthy and keep performing I'm willing to revisit as well.
 
Anything less than a WS for this Nats team would be the biggest choke since the '04 Yankees.
I think anything less than a World Series sweep, winning each game by 10 runs would be a collassal failure. Totally agree because we all know that's how baseball works.
 
You have to take Trout based on the fact he's been the best player in baseball for two years. Today, right now, Harper is playing better. Harper's last month is basically as good a stretch as I've seen since a roided up Barry Bonds. He's been that good. Yes, I just said it. However, 4-6 weeks does not a career mark. If Harper can stay healthy and keep performing I'm willing to revisit as well.
Saw an interesting tweet from one of the Nats beat writers - something along the lines that if Harper never gets injured running into that wall in LA this is the guy we would have seen all along. It's tough to argue against that. All the HRs are great - he probably has the most raw power in the league except for maybe some of the bigger sluggers like Jose Abreu etc., but what really stands out to me this year is his plate discipline. His OBP is .470. For a 22 year old that is insane. The guy simply does not chase pitches out of the zone. He forces pitchers to throw strikes and has the ability to cover the whole plate. I think that is an area is is far superior to Trout. They both K about the same amount of times, but Harper walks a lot more. Trout seems to be a better bad ball hitter though, you throw that guy anything down in the zone and he hammers it. They both don't run anymore and it makes sense to avoid injuries, but I think both these guys could easily steal 40 bases. Fielding is almost a wash - Trout makes more spectacular pays but Harper has been amazing in RF this year. His defensive numbers are much better than Jason Heyward who has been regarded as the best RF in the game over the past couple years.

Let's see what happens over the course of the season, but you are correct adp - right now Harper is the best player in the game.
 
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He played last two seasons with a bad wrist and bad knee with off season surgery on both. It's really hard to hit without your hands and knees. The kid hit 22 and 20 HR's in his first two seasons at the ages of 19 and 20. It was amazing that people didn't quite grasp what the kid was doing before he could even drink a beer all while playing injured. Regardless, I'm just enjoying the ride. It's gotten to the point where I sneak my boys out of bed to watch his AB's. Just a ton of fun right now and like nothing I have seen in this new dead ball era. No way he can maintain this pace or even come close. He's absolutely locked in.
 
ADP doesn't wake his girl up to watch Harper's ABs because he loves her more than either of his sons. What a bizarre thing to say in that Governor's ball thread.
 
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I haven't seen Trout as much but find it hard to believe his arm could be as good as Harper's. Absolute cannon with a quick release, can throw someone out at any base, any time. Changes baserunning behavior for everyone when the ball is hit his way. Unfortunately for him saw he picked up an error over the weekend because Nats don't care to back up bases.

Harper's career arc is looking like Griffey Jr.'s, with some injuries early then exploding a few years later (though it's happening faster for Harper now). That was definitely a more offensive era though, Harper and Trout more of outliers.
 
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Harder not more. You love all your children equally. If you ever have a little girl you'll understand. Completely different relationship. Not better or worse but absolutely different. You're just a kid so you don't get it. Also, it seems a little sarcasm/humor is lost on you.
 
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Trout, because he's worth more runs than Harper in areas that aren't batting and plays at one of the most demanding defensive positions at a very high level. Similar comparison would be Willie Mays to Hank Aaron.
 
Harder not more. You love all your children equally. If you ever have a little girl you'll understand. Completely different relationship. Not better or worse but absolutely different. You're just a kid so you don't get it. Also, it seems a little sarcasm/humor is lost on you.

Still not over NC State game.
 
I know Mormons don't drink or use recreational drugs, but I think performance enhancing drugs are legit - as long as they don't contain caffeine?
 
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Joke: What's the best way to keep a Mormon from drinking all your beer on a camping trip?



Answer: Invite another Mormon.
 
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Harper's having an unbelievable run right now, but he's been striking out almost every 4 plate appearances (below league average). If he's not chasing pitches out of the zone, where are all the Ks coming from (from a guy with a fantastic batting average)?
 
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He's going much deeper into counts which leads to more K's. Less AB's because he's leading the league in walks. Bottom line, hhe's taking-seeing more pitches and then crushing the ones he goes after.
 
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He walks or Ks in a little less than half of his plate appearances. Crazy stat. Either way, fun to watch him pound the ball right now.
 
The only thing close to what Harper is doing in May in recent years was Jose Bautista in the beginning of 2011. Harper is a better all around player than Bautista though.
 
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Haven't really watched baseball this year, but this is some interesting opinions. Might have to tune into some Nats games.
 
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